Miss Lava Announce New Album Under a Black Sun Out April 15; Title-Track Posted
Last heard from with 2021’s DeLores Session (review here), Portuguese heavy rockers Miss Lava today announce the advent of their fifth full-length, Under a Black Sun, also their third for Small Stone Records. To go along with the album announcement, the Lisboa, Portugal, four-piece are streaming the title track which also doubles as the record’s closer, which gives a first impression as much about texture as heft, working up from an initial strum and melodic vocal to a fully immersive, hooky push, to cap the record.
What precedes the title-track across the 52-minute expanse varies, and for a band who are no strangers to dynamics, it should be no surprise that different songs go different places. Some are more direct, some more sprawling like “Dark Tomb Nebula” at the outset or attitude-laced like “I Drown,” but the point is the first single is more of a lead-in than total representation for the work it heralds. More to come ahead of the April 25 release, which the band will celebrate by supporting Graveyard in Portugal the next night.
The PR wire has initial details:
MISS LAVA – Under a Black Sun out April 25 on Small Stone
Like distant moons spitting fire, Miss Lava forged their new album “Under a Black Sun”. Carrying a darker and heavier emotional weight than their previous outings, the band’s fifth album is set to be released through Small Stone Records in the beginning of 2025.
“It’s a pretty intense record. I guess our life experiences over the past years have made us delve into a darker matter. We explored new territories and had a blast creating this album.” says singer Johnny Lee.
The release of “Under a Black Sun” will celebrate the band’s longevity, marking their 20th anniversary. A sonic fire with many cosmic swirls that urges to be unleashed live.
“It has been a hell of a ride since we started rehearsing in a small studio in Lisbon back in 2005. Having this record come out 20 years later with a partner like Small Stone is the best thing we could wish for. Now we just need to get out there and play these songs live everywhere we can!” confirms guitarist K. Raffah.
This mystical rite of creation was the first record with drummer Pedro Gonçalves, bringing a heavier vibe to the band. It was taped once again with Miguel “Veg” Marques, who handled the band’s previous record “Doom Machine”.
“Under a Black Sun” is the successor to the praised “Doom Machine” (2021), “Dominant Rush EP” (2017), “Sonic Debris” (2016), “Red Supergiant” (2013), and “Blues for the Dangerous Miles” (2009) and a limited edition self-titled blood red vinyl EP (2008).
Over the years, the band has played live in clubs and festivals in the UK, Spain, Germany and of course Portugal. Miss Lava Lava even made a one-off appearance at the legendary Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Queens of the Stone Age, Slash, Graveyard, Ufommammut, Greenleaf, Kyuss Lives!, Fu Manchu, Valient Thorr, Entombed, Truckfighters and many more.
Tracklisting:
1. Dark Tomb Nebula
2. Neon Gods
3. Evil Eye of a Witch
4. Chaos Strain
5. Woe Warrior
6. The Bends
7. Fear in Overdrive
8. I Drown
9. Blue Sky on Mars
10. Elara
11. Under a Black Sun
Keys on “Blue Sky on Mars”, “Dark Tomb Nebula”, “Elara”,
“Evil Eye of the Witch” and “Woe Warrior” by Miguel “Veg” Marques.
Vocals on “Elara” by Alexandra Quintas “Bebé”.
Produced by Miss Lava and Miguel “Veg” Marques.
Recorded and engineered by Miguel “Veg” Marques at Generator Music Studios, Magoito, Sintra, between April and May 2024.
Alexandra’s vocals on “Elara” recorded by Ricardo Quintas at QMusic Studio in May 2024.
Mixed by Steve Lehane at Rustbelt Studios, Detroit, MI.
Mastered by Chris Goosman at Baseline Audio Labs – Ann Arbor, MI.
Design and Artwork by João Filipe.
Photography by Manuel Portugal.
Miss Lava is:
Johnny Lee: vocals
K. Raffah: guitars
P. Gonçalves: drums
Ricardo Ferreira: bass
https://www.facebook.com/MissLavaOfficial/
http://www.instagram.com/miss.lava/
https://misslava.bandcamp.com/
http://misslava.com/
